Hazelton Mayor Lou Barletta took a 9-point lead over intrenched incumbent Rep. Paul Kanjorski in a poll released today:

In the poll of 547 registered voters, Barletta attracts the support of 44 percent of respondents to Kanjorski’s 35 percent.

Perhaps more troubling for Kanjorski are some of the poll’s internal numbers: Only about 50 percent of Democrats surveyed are supporting the 12-term congressman, compared to Barletta’s 70 percent edge among Republicans. Barletta has also opened a 54-27 percent lead among independents.

In another sign of Kanjorski’s vulnerability, less than 35 percent of those surveyed believe he deserves to be re-elected.

That is excellent news for the Barletta campaign. After Kanjorski’s admission that the Democrats lied to their constituents in order to win back the House in 2006, perhaps he’s lost their trust?